Sarah Ferguson, the Duchess of York, is set to return to the United Kingdom after an absence of more than seven months, moving into a new rented residence in the Home Counties. The six-bedroom property, reportedly costing £10,000 per month, features three bathrooms and a separate "granny annexe." Preparations for her move are underway, with removal vans collecting her belongings from a property linked to her ex-husband, Prince Andrew, in Sandringham. She is expected to settle into the home imminently, potentially by early next week.
Ferguson, 66, has been living abroad following a series of controversies tied to Prince Andrew’s association with disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein. She and Andrew were evicted from Royal Lodge in Windsor earlier this year, and she has not officially resided in the UK since. The former duchess had reportedly been considering a return for some time but needed to secure suitable accommodation after years of residing at Royal Lodge.
This move coincides with another high-profile return to the UK by a member of the royal family. Prince Harry, who spent six years in the United States with his wife, Meghan Markle, and their children, arrived earlier this week. Observers note the timing as notable given Ferguson’s previously low-profile life abroad and her hopes to gradually reintegrate into British society without drawing significant attention.
Sarah Ferguson lost her Duchess of York title last October after King Charles removed honorary titles from her and Prince Andrew amid escalating scrutiny of their connections to Epstein. Though she maintains a relatively private life, Ferguson has occasionally been seen in public, including a recent stay at a luxury spa resort in Austria and time spent at a Swiss alpine chalet owned by her former partner, Paddy McNally, who passed away earlier this month.
Reports indicate she has not visited her daughter, Princess Eugenie, or her new grandchild, Adelaide, in Portugal recently, contrary to some rumors suggesting otherwise.
Prince Andrew, also stripped of his royal titles, remains under investigation by police concerning his involvement with Epstein. He was arrested on allegations of misconduct in public office earlier this year but denies all accusations. In the past, correspondence from Ferguson surfaced, revealing her referring to Epstein as a "supreme friend," a revelation that added to the public scrutiny. Calls for Ferguson to provide testimony about her ties to Epstein have been made by U.S. Congressman Suhas Subramanyam; however, no allegations of criminal behavior on her part have been made.